Updated: Javier Bardem Reportedly Offered Lead In 'The Dark Tower'

By
Kevin Jagernauth
|
The PlaylistJanuary 26, 2011 at 8:42AM

Christian Bale Once Rumored To Be Frontrunner; Jennifer Carpenter Short ListedUpdated: Hmm, while the New York Post has really done their best to "own" this story, Deadline potentially has thrown a monkeywrench in their plans and says Javier Bardem has been officially offered this part. Then again, that may not mean much. Bardem has been offered lots of roles lately like "Clash Of The Titans 2" and "Cogan's Trade," and the man just had a baby, and as a serious actor, we don't see him jumping into a silly tentpole anytime soon.

Christian Bale Once Rumored To Be Frontrunner; Jennifer Carpenter Short Listed

Updated: Hmm, while the New York Post has really done their best to "own" this story, Deadline potentially has thrown a monkeywrench in their plans and says Javier Bardem has been officially offered this part. Then again, that may not mean much. Bardem has been offered lots of roles lately like "Clash Of The Titans 2" and "Cogan's Trade," and the man just had a baby, and as a serious actor, we don't see him jumping into a silly tentpole anytime soon.

Yep, it's more frontrunner and casting rumors for Ron Howard's mega-blockbuster "The Dark Tower" and with the release date not arriving until 2013, we expect speculation to run rampant for a little while.

The NYPost, who seem to be leading the way on the rumblings of potential casting and are determined to own this story, are now reporting that Bruce Wayne himself, Christian Bale, has usurped Viggo Mortensen and Javier Bardem as the frontrunner for the central role, Roland Deschain, in the film. Not only that, Jennifer Carpenter ("Dexter," "Quarantine") is said to be shortlisted for the role of Sussanah Dean along with Moraccan actress Ghita Tazi. We presume they join the previously rumoredNaomie Harris on a list for the part.

The project will take Stephen King's mammoth seven-book fantasy opus “The Dark Tower” and stretch it across three big-screen features, broken up by two TV series which will all feature the same cast. It's certainly ambitious, but with Akiva Goldsman writing the screenplay for the first film and television series, we're keeping any expectations we have in check. Oh sure, Goldsman can perform decently when given straighforward material ("Cinderella Man," "A Beautiful Mind") but anything dealing remotely with fantasy elements seems to bring out the worst ideas and instincts from the writer.

Anyway, all of this seems very early and very thin at this point. We'd wager all these names are on a list somewhere and that with plenty of money at stake, Universal is going to be speaking to a lot of people before determining who will carry this hugely important and expensive franchise for what will be a multiple year commitment. So yeah, more names will likely be named in the months leading up to any official announcement. The first part of the "The Dark Tower" will hit May 17, 2013. And oh yeah, if you have no idea who Ghita Tazi is (like us) check out her showreel below.